Caloocan, Pangasinan post contrasting wins

Caloocan and Pangasinan notched contrasting wins to rev up their drive in Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2025 Season at the Batangas City Coliseum on Monday.

The Caloocan Batang Kankaloo banked on Jeff Manday and homegrown Paul Hendrix Casin to stun the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, 72-68, while the Pangasinan Heatwaves torched the Sarangani Grippers, 81-55, to boost their playoff chances in the two-division, 30-team tournament.

Caloocan, with Manday bunching 10 points in the last 2:41, and Casin adding seven points in the fourth quarter, improved to 14-7, right behind Pangasinan’s 13-6 slate in the round-robin elimination phase.

The Heatwaves are at fifth spot in the North Division behind pacesetters Abra and San Juan, both with 19-1 cards, Nueva Ecija (18-1) and reigning back-to-back titlist Pampanga (15=5).

Caloocan is No. 6, pacing Pasay (13-8) and Ilagan Isabela (11-9).

Batangas last led at 59-58 following CJ Isit’s split free throws, but Casin scored inside, Ronnie Matias added a charity, before Manday took over and pushed Caloocan ahead, 67-59.

Dawn Ochea’s four straight points and Philip Paniamogan’s triple towed Batangas within 66-68, but Manday canned two free throws to seal the outcome with 8.1 seconds left.

Casin posted 25 points, six rebounds and two assists to clinch the Best Player honors over Manday, who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Matias with five points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Batangas fell to 12-8 despite Levi Hernandez’s 28 points and three rebounds, and Jeckster Apinan’s nine points, 11 rebounds and two steals.